During my research, I discovered that, depending on where you look, there are a variety of social classes in the United States. The most obvious and probably best known are the six social classes used primarily in the United States today. Below, I've compiled some facts that help describe and support each class. Upper class The upper class makes up about 1% of the US population, generally made up of those who have inherited wealth from their families, this is also known as old money. New Money The new money class is relatively new on the social class scale and makes up approximately fifteen percent of the US population. New money includes people whose wealth has only existed for one or two generations. Middle Class The middle class comprises approximately 34% of the US population. Members of this class earn their money by working as professionals. They are most likely college educated or at least have attended college. These people are generally managers, doctors, lawyers, professors and teachers. They are often referred to as white collar workers. Working Class The working class makes up approximately thirty percent of the United States population. Some attended college, but many attended vocational or technical training courses. Members of the working class hold a variety of jobs, including the following: electrician, carpenter, laborer, truck driver, and police officers. This class is also known as the workers. Most individuals in this class wear uniforms to work rather than suits. Working Poor The working poor class has a low level of education, is not highly skilled and most likely works for minimum wage. They often have more than one part-time job and receive no... means of employment... from their families. This is a very simple way to explain why industries are so dependent on each other. I have a friend who owns a large car dealership. He explained it to me, making me understand much better why the auto industry is failing so miserably. His explanation was much more complex, but I think the analogy I used makes it easy to understand the complexity of this situation. I currently work in the working class as a police officer. I feel very comfortable and happy in this class. This class supports most of America and is what allows our country to survive. Personally I don't think today's system allows for large upward movements. I do it anyway; I think a person can collapse very quickly, especially if their employer takes a direct hit. I am very confident that once this economy starts to improve, all classes will start to see an increase.